War Exploits
Campaign-finance fanaticism at The New York Times.

By John J. Miller & Ramesh Ponnuru
October 16, 2001 3:50 p.m.

t a time when Americans are stockpiling antibiotics, avoiding airline travel, and thinking twice before opening their mail, how can we get the reassurance we need? The New York Times has the answer: Pass campaign-finance regulations! An editorial today concludes with these words: "It has never been more critical for the American people to have confidence in the motives behind the federal government's every action. The terror attacks and their aftermath have actually made it more important than ever that the Shays-Meehan bill become law." Of course it does.

Flash back to three days ago, when the Times blasted Republicans for "exploiting a tragic national emergency" and trying "to piggyback pet ideological measures on top of legislation to carry out the country's most urgent priorities."

Labor Pains
Senator Kit Bond, Republican of Missouri, is trying to exploit the situation too — in his case, to help the TWA workers' union. When American Airlines bought TWA, one of the conditions of the deal was that American was under no obligation to treat TWA employees' seniority claims on an equal basis with those of their own employees. American made it clear that it would not make the purchase absent that condition. If it had not, TWA would almost certainly have gone under. A bankruptcy court approved the deal.

Now Bond (and, in the House, Jo Ann Emerson) wants to change its terms. As his press release puts it, he "is seeking federal legislation to settle fairly seniority issues between American Airlines and TWA workers." He says that a "fair" settlement is "especially" important "in the wake of the uncertainty and confusion caused by the September 11th terrorist attacks and the industry problems that have followed."

But creating a precedent that tells airlines that their court-approved contracts can be overridden by politicians is no way to reduce uncertainty and confusion. At a time when many industry analysts believe consolidation is necessary, Bond's legislation would get in the way.